APPENDIX III
PROPOSED DRAFT REGIONAL STANDARD FOR KAVA PRODUCTS FOR USE AS A BEVERAGE WHEN MIXED WITH WATER
(For Adoption at Step 5)
(For Adoption at Step 5)
1. SCOPE
This standard applies to fresh or dried kava products that are used to prepare a beverage when mixed with potable water, intended for human consumption, in conformity with the description in Section 2 of this standard. The standard does not apply to the final kava beverage as such, or kava products used for medicinal purposes, or as ingredients in foods (other than as provided in this Standard) or other tradable product, or for any other purposes.
2. DESCRIPTION
Kava products are derived from selected parts of the Noble cultivar of the kava plant, Piper methysticum G. Forst. in the Family Piperaceae. The parts of the kava plant used to produce kava products may include:
a) Peeled, fresh and/or dried rhizomes, basal stems (up to the first node on each kava branch); and b) Fresh and/or dried roots.
Upper stems, leaves, peelings (bark), and extraction residues are excluded.
2.1 Fresh Kava Products
Fresh kava products are prepared using peeled rhizomes, peeled basal stems and/or roots.
2.2 Dried Kava Products
Dried kava products may be in the form of intact lateral roots or peeled rhizomes, or peeled chips, or in powdered form.
3. ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS
3.1 Raw materials
Kava plants used as raw material for kava products shall be a Noble variety. The Noble variety shall be confirmed using their morphological characteristics. Kava of the wild, Piper wichmannii and Two-day (Tudei) varieties are excluded.
The following list is non-exhaustive and includes examples of vernacular terms used to describe some Noble varieties in the various regions:
i. Federated States of Micronesia: Rahmwahnger;
ii. Fiji: Damu, Dokobana loa, Dokobana vula, Yonolulu, Loa kasa balavu, Loa kasa leka, Matakaro balavu, Matakaro leka, Qila balavu, Qila leka, Vula kasa balavu, Vula kasa leka, Yalu;
iii. Hawaii: Hanakapi'ai, Hiwa, Honokane Iki, Kumakua, Mahakea, Mapulehu, Moi, Nene, Opihikao, Pana'ewa, Papa 'Ele‘ele, Papa 'Ele‘ele Pu ‘upu‘u, Papa kea;
iv. Papua New Guinea: Kau kupwe;
v. Samoa: Ava La’au, Ava Le’a, Ava Loa, Ava Talo, Ava Mumu;
vi. Solomon Islands: Feo, Tahu, Temo;
vii. Tonga: Kava Lekahina, Kava ‘Akauhina, Kava Lekakula, Kava ‘Akaukula, Kava Fulufulu, Kava
Valu, Kava Kofe;
viii. Vanuatu: Ahouia, Amon, Asiyai, Bir Kar, Bir Sul, Biyaj, Borogoru, Borogu, Gorgor, Ge gusug, Ge vemea, Ge wiswisket, Kelai, Leay, Melmel, Melomelo, Miela, Naga miwok, Olitao, Palarasul, Palasa, Palimet, Pia, Poivota, Pualiu, Puariki, Sese, Silese,Urukara.
3.2 Production and post-harvest handling
Kava plants should be cultivated using Good Agricultural Practices.
The roots, and/or rhizomes are harvested and washed, and peeled when tissues have been exposed to sun- light. They may be sliced, dried or fresh. Dried kava may also be ground into powder.
3.3 Composition
Kava as defined in section 2 and 3.1.
3.4 Moisture
Dried kava products shall have a moisture content not exceeding 12%.
3.5 Quality criteria
Kava products shall be:
• of known Noble kava variety [and with a suitable kavalactones composition1];
• have no intentional adulteration;
• free of leaves, bark, and/or stems;
• practically free from pests;
• practically free from damage caused by pests;
• free of visible mould;
• free from soil and foreign materials;
• free from foreign odour.
3.6 Packaging and storage
Kava products shall be packaged in such a manner as to safeguard the hygienic and organoleptic quality of the products.
Kava products shall be stored in such a manner as to avoid pest access or harborage, protected from contamination, and under conditions of temperature and humidity that minimize deterioration and minimize mould growth.
Fresh kava products shall be quick frozen and maintained at < -18C.
Dried kava products shall be stored in a sealed container and the moisture content shall not exceed 12%.
3.7 Preparation of kava for use as a beverage
If prepared from dried kava, the powder is mixed with potable water and may be filtered prior to consumption. If prepared from fresh kava, the ground or macerated kava is mixed with potable water and may be filtered
prior to consumption.
4. FOOD ADDITIVES
No additives are permitted in the products covered by this standard.
5. CONTAMINANTS
The products covered by this standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants that are specified for the product in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-
1995).
The products covered by this standard shall comply with the Maximum Residue Limits for pesticides established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
6. HYGIENE
It is recommended that the product covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in accordance with the appropriate sections of the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969) and the Code of Hygienic Practice for Low-Moisture Foods (CAC/RCP 75-2015). The products should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria Related to Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997).
1 [Total kavalactones: Fresh kava products, In roots: 3.7 g/kg minimum; Dried kava products, In roots: 3.5g/kg minimum on a
<25°C> dry weight]
7. LABELLING
7.1 The products covered by this standard shall be labelled in accordance with the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985). In addition to these requirements, the following specific provisions apply:
7.2 Name of the product
The name of the food shall be “fresh kava” or “dried kava” together with the part of the kava plant from which the kava product is derived. Kava products shall have a clear marking that they are Noble kava. Optionally the name of the variety(ies) of kava plant from which the kava product is derived may be stated.
7.3 Origin of the product
Country of origin 2 and, optionally, island or district where grown, or national, regional or local place name. The
Principles for Traceability / Product Tracing as a Tool within a Food Inspection and Certification System (CXG
60-2006) shall be adhered to when tracing a product to its origin.
7.4 Instructions for use
The label of each container of kava products shall have a clear, conspicuous and easily readable message, which includes the following points:
a) the statement “Steps to prepare the kava beverage” or a similar statement followed by specifically numbered actions to prepare the kava beverage;
b) the first action referred to in Section 7.4(a) should read “Use only potable water to prepare the kava beverage” or a similar statement;
7.5 Labelling of non-retail containers
Information for non-retail containers shall be given either on the container or in accompanying documents, except that the name of the product, lot identification, and the name and address of the producer, packer, exporter or distributor shall appear on the container. However, lot identification, and the name and address of the producer, packer, exporter or distributor may be replaced by an identification mark, provided that such a mark is clearly identifiable with the accompanying documents.
7.6 Optional Labelling
Kava products may have a clear marking to indicate that they are not intended for medicinal purposes.
8. METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING
For checking the compliance with this standard, the methods of analysis and sampling contained in the Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CXS 234-1999) relevant to the provisions in this standard, shall be used.
Provision | Method | Principle | Type |
Noble kava varieties | Lebot V, Legendre L (2016), Comparison of kava (Piper methysticum Forst.) varieties by UV absorbance of acetonic extracts and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 48:25-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2016.01.009 and Lebot V, Michalet S, Legendre L. (2019). Kavalactones and flavokavins profiles contribute to quality assessment of kava (Piper methysticumG.Forst.), the traditional beverage of the Pacific. Beverages 2019, 5, 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages5020034 | High performance thin layer chromatography and/or UV absorbance of acetonic extracts measured at 440 nm (less or equal to 0.9) | IV |
Moisture | The Fiji Kava Standard 2017. Section 8.1 | Gravimetry | I |
2 The full or a commonly used name should be indicated.
[Flavokavins | Lebot V, Legendre L (2016), Comparison of kava (Piper methysticumForst.) varieties by UV absorbance of acetonic extracts and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 48:25-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2016.01.009 and Lebot V, Michalet S, Legendre L. (2019). Kavalactones and flavokavins profiles contribute to quality assessment of kava (Piper methysticumG.Forst.), the traditional beverage of the Pacific. Beverages 2019, 5, 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages5020034 | High performance thin layer chromatography and/or UV absorbance of acetonic extracts measured at 440 nm (less or equal to 0.9)] | IV |
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